Method of compacting material



Feb. 19, 1931. s o Y 1,791,583

METHOD OF COMPACTING MATERIAL Filed Nov. 6, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l 5 Fry- .Z- G J 4 0 i 'l I Q l I 1 Z I 53 Z3 v 26 22 II II I I J0 I I I 25 I 25 I 23 I Z [9 I v 7 II 24 I I I n I wcnl'alt l Feb. 10, 1931. J. T. STONEY 3,791,533

METHOD OF COMPACTING MATERIAL Filed Nov. 6,1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 10, 1931. J. "r. STONEY 1,791,583

METHOD OF COMPACTING MATERIAL Filed Nov. 6, 1-926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'JOHN '1. STONE Y, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO RAYMOND E. STONEY, 01' LAKE- WOOD, OHIO METHOD OF COMPACTING MATERIAL Application filed November 0, 1926. Serial No. 146,670.

The present invention relates to a method of compacting material in a suitable container, such as for instance a flask, containing a pattern, in which the sand is placed for making a mold for casting purposes, or a box in which sand is placed for the purpose of making a core. These illustrations are given for the purpose of clearer understanding and do not in any way limit the invention.

The object of the invention is the provision of a method of vibrating and pressing the material to be compacted, whereby the desired degree of compactness is obtained in a relatively short period of time.

In the present invention 1 distinguish from the method of compacting sand in the forming of molds, well known in the art as the jarring method, since, in the present method, the material to be compacted is subjected to a succession of blows so exceedingly rapid in action that the efi'ect of one blow has not disappeared before a succeeding blow is eilected, with the result that the material being compacted is in a continual state of agitation during the entire compacting or vibrating period.

An additional object is to apply the vibrating action upon the top of the material to be compacted and preferably in connection with this method of vibrating, to apply, in many instances, relatively high pressure upon the material being compacted, either before it is subjected to the vibration or simultaneously with the vibration.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation with portions in section showing a device capable of carrying out the herein-described method;

Fig. 2 is a section transversely through the lower part of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4c is a top plan view of the lower portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an elevation with portions in section of a form of apparatus varying from that shown in Fig. 1.

Without in any way limiting the invention which is herein-disclosed, I would say that at the present time it is usual, in the making of molds for use in making castings, to

squeeze the sand after it is placed in a flask and in association with a pattern, and also to jar the flask for the purpose of compacting the sand.

Heret-ofore, in my co-pending application, Serial No. 7 32,358, I have disclosed the method broadly of vibrating the material which is to be compacted and the present method may be regarded in the nature of an improvement in defining efficient ways in which the broad subject-matter of the above mentioned application may be carried out.

I have found that in the making of molds, it is entirely possible to make a satisfactory mold by placing the sand within a flask and in association with a pattern and subjecting the sand within the flask to vibrating action imparted against a plate or presser member inserted in the open top end of the flask. In

this connection, the best results are obtained by simultaneously exerting the pressure upon the sand while it is being vibrated so that the sand within the mold is being simultaneously squeezed and vibrated. Such a method is successful when used in the making of molds which, in the foundry industry, are ordinarily termed deep molds. T have successfully'used this method in the making of molds for casting internal combustion engine blocks.

It is at times desirable to apply the vibrating action not only to the top of the sand in a flask but to the bottom of the flask as well, and in this connection, I prefer, as before stated, to squeeze the sand in the flask at the time it is being vibrated.

So far as I am aware, no one has ever before proposed, or actually accomplished, the-co1npacting of sand within a flask by applying any sort of compacting agitation to the sand at the top of the flask. The jarring method of compacting sand in flasks, which is at present well known and used in the art, applies the jarring action to the underside of a table supporting the flask so that the jarring action may be described as being applied on the bottom of the flask. No one, so far as l am aware, has ever applied the jarring action to the top of the flask.

By applying the vibration to a platen inserted in the upper open end of the flask and simultaneously applying a pressure it would seem that the combined action of sustained agitation of the particles of sand and the pressure of. the platen are such that I am enabled to form a mold in very much less time than a similar mold could be formed by any of the present methods of either jarring or squeezing of a combined jarring and squeezing action.

In practice and in the forming and making of molds, I have found that in even a comparatively deep flask, it requires only two or three (2 or 3) seconds of combined vibrating and squeezing to produce a perfectly satisfactory mold, and the time which is required by any other method of forming molds, with which I am familiar, is much greater. By the herein-described method, one can get greater production and the number of workmen employed will not be greater than the number of workmen employed in the usual methods of molding. There is, therefore, a marked saving in cost of pro duction in the making of castings by using the method which is herein-disclosed, over any other method with which I am familiar.

The method which has been described, may be carried out by such apparatus as will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises a base 1, which is provided at the rear thereof with an upstanding post 2, the post being suitably mounted in the base so as to be rotatable therein. At the upper end of the post 2, there is an outwardly extending support 3, in which is suitably mounted a cylinder 4, having a piston 5, to which is secured a piston rod or stem '6. To the end of the stem 6, there is secured a casing 7, in which is located a freely movable vibrator piston 8. At the lower end of the casing 7 there is a pin 9, which is mounted so that it may freely reciprocate. This pin 9 impinges against the head 11, which forms, in effect, a platen or presser head.

The head 11 is secured to the casing 7 by means of bolt-s 12 which are under tension of springs 13, so that the presser head 11 may be described as yieldably mounted upon the casing 7.

Extendin outwardly, from the upper end of the casing 7, is an arm 14 to which is secured a vertically extending arm 15, and this arm in turn slides ina recess 16, which is formed in the support 3. The purpose of the rod 15 and the arm 14, is to preventrotation of the parts secured thereto, with respect to the support 3.

It is believed to be unnecessary to go into detailed description, but it will be suflicient to say that means is provided for introducing fluid-pressure behind the piston 5, in order to depress the presser head 11, or conversely to introduce fluid pressure on the opposite side of the piston 5 in order to elevate the presser head. For the purpose of this invention any form of fluid pressure supply may be used for the urpose of which there are many wellknown in the art.

The vibratorpiston 8 is operated on the principle, which is common to vibrators, of supplying air to the casing which surrounds the piston and controlling the entrance port for the air and the exit port for the air by the reciprocation of the piston. It is also preferred that this vibrator shall be what is known as a one-way vibrator, that is to say, reciprocation in a direction opposite from the pin 9 is cushioned so that the vibration effect of the piston 8 is delivered only against the pin 9; such types being well-known in the art, it is believed unnecessary to enter into any detaiied description of the air control for the vibrator.

The obvious operation of the vibrator is to impart, in very rapid succession, blows upon the pin 9, which in turn communicates the blows to the presser head. The rapidity of the blows imparted through the pin 9 to the platen 11 is such that a vibration is set up in the metal of the presser head and the vibration is a continuing vibration due to the rapidity of the blows imparted thereto. This vibration is in turn imparted to the sand in the flask.

There is a depending rod 18, which,at its lower end, has a head 19, which is adapted to co-operate with an arm 20 having a recess 21 which is carried by the base 1 so that when the head is swung into operative position above the base, the part 19 and the recess 20 may co-operate to hold the base and the swinging portion in proper position with respect to each other.

Upon the base 1 there is a table 22 which is adapted to have mounted thereon a pattern and to receive a cope or drag flask in the operation of making a mold. This table 22 is supported upon a hollow casing 23 in which is located a vibrating piston 24. The piston 24 in its reciprocation impinges against a pin 25, which in turn communicates its blows to the table 22. The table, upon the underside thereof, and adjacent the edge, is provided with a downwardly extending flange 26, which co-operates with an upstanding flange 1a, which is carried by the base 1. Likewise the table 22 has, on the underside thereof, a plate-like portion 22a, which engages with the plate-like portion 23a of the casing 23. The cable 22 is heid and secured in position by means of the spring retaining members 27, one of which is shown in Fig. 1.

The purpose of this construction is to provide what may be termed, a free movement of the table 22 under the action of the vibrating mechanism. The spring connection permits a. free vibration movement of the table 22, at the same time retaining it from becoming disengaged from its mounting.

The vibrator 24 is preferably a one-Way vibrator that is to say the stroke is cushioned on the movement of the piston away from table 22. Therefore, the eflective blows of the vibrator are upon the pin 25.

Within the base 1, there is a curved yokelike member 28, which at its ends, carries two posts29. These posts extend upwardly and are oppositely disposed with respect to each other, and further are located in line with the transverse center line of the table 22.

At their outer ends, these posts 29 are provided with brackets 30, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 4:, which brackets have means at their ends, as indicated at 31, for engaging with a flask for the purpose of raising the flask from the table 22 after a mold has been completed. Obviously, the means ust described could as well operate a stripping plate if such were used in connection with the mold mg machine.

Referring toFig. 2, the operating means for the member 28 is'illustrated. This comprises an outer casing or cylinder 32, which is slidably mounted upon an inner cylinder 33.

The cylinder 32, has a bifurcated arm 34,-, which extends outwardly therefrom, this bifurcated arm being shown plainly in Fig. 4.. The arms of the member 28, join at their central portion to what may be termed a sliding hub 35, which hub is mounted to be capable of moving up and down on a fixed post 36, which is secured within the base 1 of the molding machine;

The bifurcated member 34 has its arms passing beneath the arms of the members 28, so that when the cylinder 32 is raised it will result in raising the member 28, the post 29 and the brackets 30 carried thereby, all for the purpose of drawing the mold from its pattern or elevating a stripping plate.

As will be seen from the drawings, the operation of the cylinder 32 is accomplished by delivering fluid pressure into the chamber 37 formed'between the upper portion of the part 33, and the head of theouter reciprocating member 32.

The molding machine, which has just been described, is one in which provision is made for vibrating the presser head and also for vibrating the table upon which the pattern and flask are mounted.

As stated in the first part of this specification, the presser-platen, with its vibrator may alone be used in which event the vibrator associated with the lower table will be dispensed with. In such event any form of table may be used and provided with suitable means for elevating the flask to draw or for elevating the stripping plate where the same is used.

In operating such a machine, as is shown Fig. 1, assume that a proper pattern has been attached to the table 22 and a flask, filled with sand, is properly mounted upon the table. Usually the presser head 11 is lowered by operating the piston 5, and simultaneously with the squeezing operation, the vibrator 8 is operated. Either simultaneously with the operation of the presser head and vibrator 8, or before or after such vibrating'operation, the lower vibrator 24 may be operated.

In other Words, as will be seen, any sequence of operation with respect to the overhead pressing and vibrating and the under or lower vibrating may be effected, as may be found convenient or desirable in connection with making molds from any given pattern. In Fig. 5, there is shown a molding machine in. which the table upon which the flask is mounted has been omitted merely because any suitable form of support for the pattern and flask may be used, apparatus of this kind being thoroughly well-known in the art.

This apparatus comprises a base member 40 in which is mounted for turning, an upright member 41. At its outer end this member 4.1 is secured to the inside of a curved member 42, which curved member, at its lower end, has a flaring base 43 with a depending flange 44, which co-operates with'the upper portion of the base 40. it will, there fore, appear that the upper structure 42 is so mounted that it may turn or swivel upon its base mounting.

F or the purpose of holding the upper portion in anv fixed relation With respect to the base 40, the spring-pressed latch pin 45 is provided, which is adapted to engage with an opening 46 formed in the stationary, base, thereby locking the swinging head in its proper position.

At the outer end of the member 42, is a cylinder 45a having a piston 46a therein to which is secured a piston rod 47; This piston rod at its lower end carries a casing 48 in which is secured a vibrator piston 49 and at the lower end of the casing 48 there is mounted a presser-member 50 which is spring held with respect to the casing 48 by the springs 51. The construction of the cylinder, the piston, the piston rod, the vibrator piston 19, the presser 50 and the parts associated therewith, is in all respects the same as shown in the upper part of Fig. 1.

In fact the purpose of showing the construction in Fig. 5 is simply to illustrate a form of apparatus in which the overhead presser and vibrating mechanism is employed and may be used with any suitable form of molding table which may be, where desired, provided with means for raising the flask. or to raise a stripping plate as shown and described in connection with the apparatus at the lower part of Fig. 1 of the drawings.

It will be obvious that the construction of apparatus which has been herein-described, may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention and such modifications are intended to be included herein.

Having thus described my invent-ion, I claim:

1. The method of compacting loose material within a container which consists in mounting a container upon a suitable support, applying a presser member upon the upper portion of the material within the container and imparting a vibrating move ment to the said presser member and also simultaneously imparting vibrating movement to the support upon which the container is mounted.

2. The method of molding which consists in placing a flask with sand therein upon a table associated with a pattern, applying pressure to the upper part of the sand by means of a presser member, imparting rapid vibratory movement to the presser member and also simultaneously imparting rapid vibratory movement to the said table.

3. The method of compacting loose material within a container which consists in mounting a container upon a suit-able table, applying pressure to the material within the container, and imparting rapid vibrating movement only in a direction toward the table and upon substantially the entire top portion of the material.

4. The method of compacting loose material within a container which consists in placing a container upon a suitable support,

applying pressure to substantially the entire upper portion of the material and imparting rapid vibrating blows only in a direction toward the support to the means by which the pressure is apphed.

5. The method of molding which consists in mounting a flask containing sand upon a suitable support and in association with a pattern, applying pressure by means of a 'presser member to the sand in substantially the entire upper portion of the flask and imparting vibratory blows to the presser member only in a direction toward the support.

6. The method of compacting loose material within a container which consists in applying pressure and a compressive vibrating movement to substantially the entire top of the material within a container and in one direction only.

7 The method of molding which consists in placing sand within a flask and in association with a pattern and applying pressure and a compressive vibrating movement to substantially the entire top of the sand within the flask in one direction only.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOHN T. STONEY. 

